China’s rising tennis star Wang Xiyu showcased her determination and skill as she edged out the USA’s Bernarda Pera in a gripping three-set match during the first round of the women’s singles qualifiers at the Italian Open in Rome on Monday. Wang secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory, earning her spot in the next round.
The 30-year-old Wang and Pera had split victories in their previous two encounters, with Wang suffering a tough comeback loss to Pera in the second round at the U.S. Open in 2023. This time, Wang approached the match with enhanced patience and solid defense, clinching the first set confidently.
Despite conceding the second set and saving two set points, Wang didn’t lose her composure. The third set saw Pera taking an early 2-0 lead, but Wang fought back fiercely, winning four consecutive games to seal the match. Her resilience on the court was evident as she turned the tables in her favor.
Wang will face Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands in her next qualifier, aiming to continue her strong performance.
In other action, China’s Yuan Yue was eliminated by Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic with a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline. Yuan struggled with slow starts in both sets, trailing early but fighting back valiantly. Despite her efforts to level the second set at 4-4, Ruzic pulled ahead to win the match. Ruzic is set to face Germany’s Jule Niemeier next.
